Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
The ride was… difficult.
Elaina tried to sit as far forward as the saddle allowed, with her spine rigid.
Duncan’s presence behind her was impossible to ignore.
She couldn’t deny the heat of his body at her back and the steady strength of his arms bracketing her without quite touching.
Each movement of the horse sent an unwelcome awareness through her, and her heart raced for reasons that had nothing to do with speed or fear.
She told herself sternly to breathe. Apparently, her effort did not go unnoticed.
“Ye can lean a bit further back, intae me,” Duncan said lightly from behind her, with amusement threading through his voice, “I dinnae bite, ye ken.”
She swallowed. “Ye may nae,” she replied, “but perhaps I dae.”
That earned her a low chuckle. “Is that a warning?”
“Consider it a courtesy,” she said, fixing her gaze firmly on the road ahead and praying he could not hear how quickly her pulse was beating.
They rode on for a short while before he spoke again. “How did ye sleep?”
Her answer came too quickly. “Well.”
He was quiet for a moment, then made a comment. “At one point in the night, it looked as though ye were having a bad dream.”
Her shoulders tensed. “It was naething,” she said, brushing it off with practiced ease. “Probably just remnants of a long night.”
He did not press her. The silence that followed felt respectful and she found herself grateful for it. With no words between them, she could at least pretend her thoughts were her own, even as the warmth at her back reminded her how fragile that pretense truly was.
The road wound upward, and before Elaina had quite adjusted to the rhythm of the ride, the castle came into view.
Castle Grant rose from the land with quiet authority.
Its stone walls looked pale in the morning light, while the banners were stirring faintly in the breeze.
The gates opened at Duncan’s approach, iron and wood yielding with practiced ease.
Guards straightened at once, with hands to their weapons.
All gazes were on her. Elaina felt it immediately: the curious looks, the quick assessments, the barely concealed surprise. A woman riding in with the laird, seated before him on his horse, was certainly not an ordinary sight. She kept her chin high, though her pulse quickened.
Duncan dismounted first, then helped her down with a steady hand.
“Send fer one of the maids,” he instructed a nearby guard. “I’ve brought a new healer fer the clan.”
The guard blinked, glanced at Elaina again, then nodded. “Aye, me laird.”
Within moments, a maid appeared. She was young, neatly dressed, and visibly curious. Duncan turned to her at once.
“Take her tae the chamber by mine,” he said. “She’ll be staying there.”
Elaina’s breath caught, though she said nothing. She had foolishly hoped that he would show her around himself, that he might explain the place she was meant to call home for the foreseeable future. Instead, the maid dipped her head and gestured politely for Elaina to follow.
“As ye wish, me laird.”
Elaina glanced back once, searching Duncan’s face for reassurance, perhaps, or acknowledgment of the abruptness of it all. But he was already speaking to one of the guards, having his attention pulled away by duty as easily as he had taken it up.
The maid led her through the corridors. Elaina followed, clutching her cloak and her resolve, aware that she had crossed into a new world.
“Me name is Lorna, me lady,” she introduced herself quietly as they went. She did it in a tone that was respectful, without being overly familiar, and Elaina found herself grateful for the small courtesy.
The chamber she was shown into was far finer than anything she had expected.
A great bed of carved oak stood against the far wall.
Its tall posts were hung with soft linen curtains, and there were folds of fresh linen and woolen blankets laid neatly upon it.
At the foot of the bed rested a polished chest bound in iron, and a thick woven rug softened the stone beneath her feet.
A wide window looked out over the inner yard, and now, through it, late afternoon light spilled across the chamber, glinting off a small writing table and the silver pitcher upon it.
Elaina paused just inside the doorway, taking it in.
“Daesnae the healer usually have a cottage of their own?” she asked, keeping her voice light, while careful not to sound ungrateful.
The maid nodded at once, and a faint crease immediately formed between her brows.
“Aye, normally. But it’s nae fit fer use just now.
It suffered a flood some weeks past. It was due tae a lack of use, mostly.
The roof gave way during the heavy rains, and the ground beneath turned soft. It hasnae been repaired yet.”
“I see,” Elaina murmured.
“Fer now,” the maid continued, gesturing to the room, “if ye need anything like linens, water, or assistance, I can fetch them fer ye. As fer remedies that require fire or heat, ye may use the kitchen. The cook will be been informed. A chamber has been set up temporarily fer the healer in the castle while the cottage is out of use.”
That eased Elaina’s worries. She nodded, letting her fingers trail lightly over the edge of the table. “Thank ye. That will be sufficient.”
The maid had scarcely dipped her head when the door flew open.
“Is it true?” a woman’s voice demanded brightly. “Is she in here?”
The maid startled, stepping aside just in time as the newcomer swept into the room with unrestrained energy. She halted the moment her eyes landed on Elaina.
“Oh, me goodness,” the woman exclaimed, staring openly now. “They were nae lying. Ye are lovely! And ye’re truly a lady, and nae another laird!”
Elaina blinked, thoroughly taken aback.
The woman laughed at once, the sound warm and infectious. “Oh, how silly of me. Ye must think me a complete madwoman, bursting in like this and speaking utter nonsense.”
Before Elaina could reply, the woman crossed the room and took her hand without hesitation.
“I am Catriona Grant,” she said cheerfully. “The laird’s sister.”
Elaina found herself studying her even as she returned the smile.
Catriona bore a striking resemblance to her brother, with her long auburn hair falling in wild curls about her shoulders, and the same piercing green eyes that missed very little.
Her complexion was darker than Elaina’s, olive-toned and warm even now, and there was a vitality to her that filled the room.
She looked like someone who observed quietly and understood deeply, the sort of woman who could charm without ever trying.
“It is very nice tae meet ye,” Elaina said sincerely. “And it is I who should apologize fer barging intae yer home like this.”
Catriona waved the apology away at once. “Nonsense! Absolute nonsense. I finally have proper company!”
She beamed, squeezing Elaina’s hand with unmistakable delight. “Dae ye ken how long I’ve been waiting tae say that?”
She wasted no time. She guided Elaina farther into the room as if it were already a shared space, her curiosity bright and entirely unguarded.
“So, where are ye from?” she asked at once. “And how did ye come tae meet me braither? He rarely brings anyone back with him, much less a healer, and certainly nae a lady.”
Elaina smiled, choosing her words with care. “I have traveled a great deal,” she offered in response. “I learned healing where I could, from those willing tae teach. Circumstance made our paths cross.”
“Circumstance,” Catriona echoed with interest. “That sounds far more exciting than coincidence.”
Elaina laughed softly, relieved by the lack of suspicion in her tone. “Perhaps a little of both.”
“And will ye stay long?” Catriona pressed, clearly hoping for a favorable answer. “Or are ye merely passing through, as most people seem tae dae?”
“I intend tae stay,” Elaina replied truthfully, though the weight of the words surprised her. “If I am useful, of course.”
Catriona’s eyes lit at once. “Useful? Oh, ye already are. If only by being someone new tae talk tae. Fer example, what herbs dae ye favor most? Everyone swears by something different, and I have yet tae decide what I trust.”
“Comfrey, fer wounds,” Elaina replied carefully. “Yarrow fer bleeding. Arnica fer bruising. Simple things, but reliable.”
“And remedies?” Catriona pressed. “Dae ye prefer poultices or tinctures?”
“Whatever the injury calls fer,” Elaina mused. “Healing is as much observation as it is knowledge. One must learn tae listen, tae the body and tae what it needs.”
Catriona nodded thoughtfully. “That sounds like something that takes patience.”
“It daes,” Elaina agreed. “And practice.”
“And what of ye?” Catriona asked with the unrivaled curiosity of a little child. “Are ye a quiet-morning sort, or dae ye come alive late at night?”
Elaina smiled. “I work best when things are calm. Whether that is morning or night, depends on the day.”
Catriona laughed. “A sensible answer. And the castle, daes it intimidate ye? Or dae ye simply find it drafty, like everyone else?”
“A little drafty,” Elaina admitted. “But I’ve kent worse places.”
Seeing how Catriona’s questions came one upon the other, both quick and cheerful, Elaina had to smile.
“Ye ken, ye remind me of yer braither a lot,” Elaina smiled.
Catriona chuckled in a bright and delighted sound. “I suppose ye could say the need fer interrogation runs in the family.”
She tilted her head, watching Elaina with more interest than before, if such a thing were possible.
“Though,” she added pensively, “me braither usually looks far more severe when he daes it, like he’s already preparing tae pass judgment, even before the interrogation.
” Her grin turned mischievous. “Truth be told, it is rare enough that me braither takes such an interest in anyone at all. If he questioned ye so thoroughly…” She shrugged lightly.
“Ye must have been quite the curiosity tae him.”
Elaina let out a soft laugh. “I suspect he was only making certain I wouldnae prove a nuisance.”
“Well,” Catriona declared, looking pleased, “then ye’ll manage just fine here.”
Elaina returned the smile, grateful that none of the questions had strayed where she could not follow and more grateful still for the warmth with which they had been asked.
“Well, I ought tae let ye rest,” Catriona said at last, though she did not look particularly eager to go. “Ye’ve had a long journey, and I suspect me enthusiasm may already be testing yer patience.”
“Nae at all,” Elaina replied warmly.
“If ye’re hungry, or if ye need anything at all,” Catriona went on, gesturing toward the door, “the servants are entirely at yer disposal. Dinnae hesitate, even if it feels a little improper. I promise, nay one here will mind.”
Elaina inclined her head, genuinely touched. “Thank ye, fer everything, fer being so welcoming.”
Catriona grinned. “Ye’ll likely grow bored of me soon enough, so dinnae thank me in advance.”
“I rather doubt that,” Elaina said, smiling despite herself.
Catriona laughed softly, then stepped toward the door. “Rest well, Elaina. I’ll see ye soon.”
With one last bright glance, she slipped out, leaving Elaina alone once more, this time with the unexpected knowledge that she was no longer entirely on her own.